How long before a flight should I be at the airport?

Times vary at major British airports, but mostly it will depend on a) whether or not you need to check in at a manned desk and b) if you have cabin baggage to check in.

International flights

Heathrow, Manchester and Stansted all ask passengers to check in three hours before departure for long-haul flights (within Europe, two hours), but at Gatwick it is four hours (within Europe, three hours). For flights within Europe, however, you can cut this time significantly if you have checked in online or have hand baggage only,

Domestic flights

For domestic flights (UK and Ireland), Gatwick and Stansted ask you to be at the airport to check in two hours before departure; at Heathrow it is 90 minutes and at Manchester they ask you to enter security at least one hour before departure.

One exception is London City Airport, being a small airport aimed at business travellers despite being widely used for weekend and leisure travel, generally closes check-in just 20 minutes before departures.

What if I’ve already checked in online?

So many of us check in online now and print off our boarding passes, but you should still allow enough time for bag drops and security checks, not to mention queue sizes, unforeseen delays and the time it takes to walk to the gate. It’s easy, especially if you have only hand luggage, to relax too much and underestimate how long it will take. Allow at least half an hour for security/passport checks, and remember that boarding usually closes 20-40 minutes before departure.

5 things to consider when deciding how early to be at the airport

Do we really need to check in our baggage or could we carry it all on board?

Is it a big airport? Ie: will it take a long time to walk from security to the gate?

Is it likely to be particularly busy today? Ie: first weekend of summer holidays, national holiday

Could my party slow us down at all? Ie: travelling with small children, elderly relatives

Is there any way we could speed things up a little? Ie: checking in online, priority boarding

Can I get compensation if I missed my flight?

Even if there were massive queues at the airport, or major traffic or transport problems stopping you getting there on time - if it isn’t the fault of the airline, then they are not obliged to compensate you.

There are some circumstances you can get compensation - if you’re travelling with a tour operator and they didn’t get you to the airport on time, then they are responsible, or if the flight date or time was changed and the airline didn’t let you know.

What are your rights if flights are cancelled due to strike action?

With British Airways strike looming in August, it’s worth looking at your rights if you miss flights booked before strike action was announced. European Union regulations say that if your flight is cancelled due to strike action, you can get either a full refund of your unused portions, rerouted so that you reach your destination as soon as possible or rebooked onto another flight at a later date.

You can’t however get cash compensation from the airline as they are not considered directly responsible, strikes being seen as ‘extraordinary circumstances’. The EU regulations do however insist the airline gives you ‘assistance’, such as food and drink or hotel accommodation if you are significantly delayed far from home. If you have to pay for any of this out of your own pocket, it’s wise to keep receipts and claim it back later.

Will travel insurance cover me for a missed flight?

Generally, most travel insurance policies have cover for missing a flight for reasons beyond your control, such as public transport problems, adverse weather conditions or car breakdowns en route to the airport. There may be exceptions, for example if the car was rented and you can’t prove that it was in good condition before you picked it up, so it’s worth checking the small print of your policy. Check also if it covers you for illness (you or your travel colleagues) that stop you from making the flight on time.

How do I compare travel insurance?

Cover varies so it’s best not just to look at the cheapest deals around, but the actual cover that suits you best - and then compare those. Remember, if you lose your bags or get them stolen, miss your flight or are taken ill, you’ll be glad that you’re financially protected.